J CLASS II....LESSON VI. OF PARSING. Parsing is that part of instruction, which by practice, exercises the skill of the pupil in the parts of speech; and by which the parts of speech are discriminated in the structure of language, according to the received rules of grammar. EXAMPLE. The little birds sing praises to God, when they warble sweetly in the green shades of the wilderness. The modes or moods are four; that is, there are four manners or ways, in which verbs express their meaning.. 1. The indicative, which asks or declares a question; as I am well; is Sidney sick; are you going? 2. The imperative, commands or forbids; as learn your lesson; go up stairs; stop a while. 3. The subjunctive, is so called, because it has often a conjunction subjoined; as if I stay. 4. The infinitive, which has neither number, person, nor nominative case before it, and is known by the sign to as I mean to ride; you wish to walk. THE TENSES. There are six tenses, or distinctions of time, in which all actions have been, are, or may be performed; and verbs denote action; these are past time, present, and future, and the divi sions which are made of the past and future. The past is divided into three. 1. The preterimperfect, or what had not been fully done at a past time; known by was; or did; or I wrote, did write, or was writing. 2. The preterperfect or what had been fully done at a time past; known by have; as I have been, or have written. 3. The preterpluperfect denotes time more than past, or where the date is not certainly fixed or expressed, and is known by had; as I had written, I had some remote knowlege; I once had an excellent horse. The present tense has no variety, as it denotes the time that now is the signs are do, and am, and is; as I do write; I am writing; he is writing. The future has two divisions. 1. Future imperfect, or time to come, knowa by shall or will. 2. Future perfect, positive, as it shall or will have been; or with the conditional or provi sional when it shall or will have been. 2. Is the study of grammar necessary? A. Most certainly it is; because ignorant of the principles of grammar, we should be strangers to the correctness of the language of our own country, and unable to express ourselves on the most trifling occasions properly or correctly. What, for instance, is more common, than to hear ignorant people say, I loves, I knows, I sees, instead of I love, I know, I see ; I seen, instead of I saw, or had seen; and had have, instead of have had; and committing a thousand other errors against grammar. 2. Is not the study of grammar difficult? A. In Greek and Latin it is difficult, because these languages are not spoken in common; but in the French and some other modern languages it is easy. English is very easy to us who speak it in common; but to foreigners very dif ficult. 2. What is punctuation? A. Punctuation is the art of making in writing the several pauses or rests between sentences, and the part of sentences, according to the proper quantity, or the sense of the subject. 2. What marks are used for this purpose? A. The comma The semicolon The period The parenthesis Marked thus Q. How are these points or stops used? A. Each of the first four, have a power or value proportionate to their position; as the comma is the smallest or shortest pause; or, that which marks the sense, in places where delicacy of judgment is required, to render the intention of the writer perfectly understood. A comma before and after a word, in many instances totally alters the sense, as in the following verses : FALSE PUNCTUATION. Now Phaeton by lofty hopes, possess'd TRUE PUNCTUATION. Now Phaeton, by lofty hopes possess'd; The semicolon divides sentences, as the comma divides words and regulates sense; and the colon divides sentences which are more remotely connected. The following is an example of a semicolon in an expression of Franklin. It seems to be intended that we should see and hear twice as much as we speak; for we have two eyes and two ears, and but one inouth.. The colon is somewhat longer than a semicolon and shorter than a period; and in some instances where the colon occurs, the sense is perfect without what follows it, and it is then only an additional idea or sentence. In adversity, education is a source of comfort; in youth an amusement; a delight in old age: at home it is agreeable; abroad a charming companion: the fruits of a good education are always in bloom. The period or full point, is used also to divide the members of subjects and sentences; and to point out where a pause may take place, or a sentence ends. The apostrophe is seen as used in poetry in the above verses, where it stands in the place of the e. Its further use is described in the 3d, lesson, page 31, in explaining the genetive or possessive case. The interrogation is placed after questions. The exclamation, or note of admiration, is placed after words or sentences which express surprize or admiration; and when used in satirical or humorous exclamations, two or more of them are often used. Parenthesis are used for the introduction of small sentences into the middle of larger. A moral life is the happiest; there is no religion (however often you go to church) without a moral conduct; moral conduct is practical religion; religion without morals (it is too frequent) is only imposture or hypocrisy. There are various other signs used in writing and printing, among which are the following: The apostrophe is used as a means of abbreviation, as tho' for though; receiv'd for received, Katherine's book. This sign is called paragraph, and is principally used in the scriptures to designate the commencement of a new subject. This is called a section, and is used in various works for the division of subjects. **** are used as references to notes frequently placed at the bottom of a page, which explain or illustrate a point, or refer to an authos. rity for what is asserted. |